Category Archives: News

A local news agency (Jiji Press) has reported that Japan’s Ministry of Finance has launched a promotion campaign to attract orders to print foreign banknotes. The National Printing Bureau (NPB), Tokyo, is highlighting Japan’s “cutting-edge anti-counterfeit technologies” in the hope of attracting orders. They will also offer passport printing services in addition to the current…

The European Central Bank (ECB) has warned that mobile payment technology currently used by smartphone operating systems represent a security risk as customers increasingly adopt mobile payments for their day to day purchases. As previously reported, mobile phone payments are growing rapidly as smartphone technology becomes more widely available and as consumer trust in the…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is reportedly considering a move from polymer banknotes back to traditional paper. Low denominations banknotes have been issued with a polymer substrate – the N5, N10, N20 and N50 – since 2006 after the CBN signed a deal with Australia’s Securency International to print low value, high circulation Naira banknotes…

Bitcoin, the world’s first free market, decentralised global currency, has surpassed US$1,000 (£613) for the first time according to MTGox, one of the virtual currency’s main exchanges. Bitcoin has seen fast growth since its introduction in 2008, allowing users the ability to make payments from person to person anonymously. This has caused some criticism, with…

The European Central Bank (ECB) announced that a new Europa series €10 banknote will be unveiled on January 13, 2014 and issued later in the year. The Partnership Program, held by the ECB and the national Central Banks (NCB) in the Euro area on November 26, 2013, aimed to help banknote equipment manufacturers and suppliers,…

Today sees the launch of a new online payment system from Visa. It allows consumers to make online payments “simply and securely”. At a time where online purchases are rapidly increasing, businesses are realising how important it is to make things easy for their customers. The use of smartphones and electronic tablets has been a…

In a paper published in September by the Department of Computing, University of Surrey, UK, researchers demonstrated how contactless payments could be interferred with, effectively “eavesdropping” on the payment systems which use Near Field Communication (NFC) / Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to transfer payment data. With the required technology being increasingly made available, be…

Following on from the launch of Google Wallet in 2011, Google is now introducing a prepaid debit card which will allow customers to purchase goods at stores and withdraw cash from ATMs. Google Wallet is a smartphone app which allows users to make online payments and transfer funds to other users. It is a digital…

20 million notes will be produced in total, which have a vertical design depicting a snowboarder and several venues in the Sochi Olympic Park, including the Fisht Olympic Stadium on the reverse of the note. The national flags of countries participating in the games form part of the design on the front of the note.…

On November 15th, 2013, the Bank of Guyana unveiled the new £5,000 banknote. This is an additional denomination to the current series existing of the £20, £100, £500 amd £1,000. It is due to go into circulation on December 9th, 2013. The face of the banknote displays a map of the country with its natural resources,…

SMI is one of the best known independent technical and marketing consultancies serving the banknote and high security document market. In a sector which by its nature is strictly confidential and relies on experience and trust, SMI has built a strong reputation for insight, expertise and integrity.

Philippe Barreau, Managing DirectorSICPA SA

SMI’s unique knowledge of the banknote industry is unrivalled. They are the consultancy of choice within this sector.

Arjo Wiggins, Managing Director BanknotesThibaut d'Argentré

Secura Monde’s knowledge and grasp of the currency industry – the suppliers, issuers, technologies - and the issues and challenges that it faces are second to none.

Astrid Mitchell, EditorReconnaissance International

I can recommend the professional skill of the Secura Monde team and their global network. They are disciplined, organized, analytical, accurate and timely executing agreed tasks, they provide both comprehensive, detailed and meaningful reports and recommendations. Secura Monde also has good technical knowledge in security production and application, and production technologies from start to finish, which is very valuable.

Matthias Müller, Director Business Unit Security FeaturesHueck Folien

For technical and strategic consultation in the field of banknote and high security printing SMI is recognised as the industry leader. The company's understanding of the global market and its relevant technologies is first class and, in a highly competitive sector, SMI can be relied upon to provide expert and reliable independent advice.

Crane Currency

The recent business history of Fabriano in Security papers and features started in 2002 with a key report made by SMI. In fact, Fabriano paper mill was basically supplying banknote paper just to domestic market. With the investment made at that time, enabling their production to increase by 3 times, they need a clear overview on the international market, which was given by SMI, as well as some important advices as to security features alliances, which led Fabriano to take over a leading security thread and holographic foil manufacturer such as Mantegazza, renamed as Fabriano Securities in 2004.